Whyalla is on its way to a green steel and carbon neutral future following the final push at the coke ovens on Friday, 15 September.
It was an emotional day for past and present workers with more than 20 past employees in attendance, including Richard Insall and Brian Moodie who were present for the first push at the coke ovens in 1968.
Whyalla Mayor Phill Stone says coke ovens are not the future because of the emissions they create.
“My understanding is that even if you wanted to get approval for putting up new coke ovens, you’d never get it these days because of the environmental issues, Mayor Stone says.
“As part of their transformation, my understanding is that with the coke ovens closing they will import coke direct instead of making it here in Whyalla until the arc furnace is up and running, the hydrogen is up and running, and then it’ll be hydrogen powered.”
